Sunday, 7 September 2014

PIA News Dispatch - Friday, September 5, 2014

Government intensifies ‘anti-kotong’ campaign

The government will launch an “invigorated
anti-kotong campaign” in the next two weeks in an effort to help truckers move
containers from the Port of Manila, Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras said
on Friday.

“We’re going to be launching an invigorated
anti-kotong operation, particularly those that are targeting these trucks,
because the truckers have said that one of their problems is these illegal and
unscrupulous operations,” Secretary Almendras told reporters during a press
briefing in Malacañang.

He said these illegal operations have raised the
cost of transporting cargoes from Manila’s seaport to their destinations.

“Tumaas ho ang presyo, as well as the pressure
has been significant, kaya rin naiipit ang mga cargo. So, we are going to face
this challenge head-on with a new task force under the NCRPO (National Capital
Region Police Office) po,” Almendras said.

He said Philippine National Police Chief General
Alan Purisima has assigned a senior officer of the NCRPO, General Allen
Bantolo, to oversee the anti-kotong operations and inform traffic enforcers of
the special facility to be given to truckers.

Some traffic enforcers who have not been
“appropriately informed” of the special facility, are taking advantage of the
situation, he noted.

The Cabinet Secretary reported that Metro Manila
Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino met with traffic
enforcement groups of different cities and municipalities in Metro Manila to
inform them of the special facility.

To help decongest the Port of Manila, the Land
Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and MMDA will be giving tags to
trucks moving containers out of the seaport. The tag will enable the truckers
to avail of the two-week window that will allow them to use the express lanes,
even if they go beyond the 24-hour allotment to transport their goods.

“We’re looking forward to Sunday. As of today, I
saw a list of the importers who all said they are going to draw containers this
Sunday, and it’s a good list. I’m looking forward to a good Sunday, and if we
can do that, so much the better,” Secretary Almendras said. PND (ag)